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Being able to fire up a 110-volt coffee pot in the morning without first firing up an expensive-to-run, noisy generator is a great convenience. Being able to charge cellphones, two-way radios and anything else that uses mains electricity for free while driving is another plus. Inverters are manufactured in sizes large enough to power microwaves, complete TV-based entertainment systems and washer-dryers.

Items you will need

Power inverter

Fasteners

Screwdriver

Wrench (optional)

Connectors

Cable

Step 1

Decide on the amount of power you will require from your inverter. If it will be needed only to run a cellphone charger, then no wiring is required; simply buy a small portable unit designed to plug into a 12-volt power outlet or cigar lighter, read the instructions and press the device into the receiver.

Step 2

Clear a space in which to fit a larger inverter. The space should be in a location where the potential for accidental damage is minimized, not at foot level in an accessway, below an area where fluids are regularly transferred or near a source of heat. Nothing flammable should be in the vicinity, and air must be able to circulate freely around the device. The inverter should be located close to the battery that will supply its power, but not in the same compartment or cargo hold. The substrate to which the inverter is to be fitted must be sturdy and noncombustible. Very large inverters are typically fitted to a sliding tray that conceals inside one of the exterior cargo bays.

Step 3

Fix the inverter to a secure support. The electronic components inside the inverter must be protected from unnecessary concussion. Follow the manufacturer's instructions concerning fastening points; typically there are four or more predrilled holes in the lips on either long side of the unit designed to accept screws or, in the case of larger units, lag bolts. Use a screwdriver or wrench as appropriate to drive the fasteners through the holes into the support.

Step 4

Wire the unit directly to the battery from which it will draw its power. This should almost invariably be the coach battery that serves the "house" functions of the RV, not the chassis battery that serves the engine. The battery should be of the marine deep cycle variety. Follow the instructions supplied with the inverter concerning wire size and circuit protection; typically a 1,000-watt inverter should be connected to the battery's positive terminal with no less than 4-gauge cable and a 150-amp fuse or circuit breaker.

Step 5

Connect the 12-volt ground cable as per the manufacturer's instructions. Typically this can be done to any good ground connection such as a bolt driven into a chassis rail near the inverter; running a ground back to the negative pole of the supply battery is usually not necessary. Use a wrench to loosen a pre-existing bolt, fit the ground connector around the shank and replace the bolt. The ground cable should be of the same gauge as the supply cable.

Tip

Use supplied connectors and cable, or measure and note down your requirements and have them made at a store that specializes in battery sales.

Resources

About the Author

John Cagney Nash began composing press releases and event reviews for British nightclubs in 1982. His material was first published in the "Eastern Daily Press." Nash's work focuses on American life, travel and the music industry. In 1998 he earned an OxBridge doctorate in philosophy and immediately emigrated to America.